Between the rise of food allergies and the increasing interest in living more harmoniously with our environment, many people are exploring diet alterations in order to find balance within and without. These modifications to our food intake can sometimes feel restrictive, confusing, or over-whelming. Yet, it's likely that soon the 'proper' diet for your body-mind-spirit will start to feel good. And, it can be fun - if you approach it as a game or a challenge, maybe even a puzzle of all the elements that need to be pieced together to become your perfect healthy self.
It's hard not to sound like I'm lecturing when I talk about why I feel moderation is vital to our survival - as individual bodies and as a species and a universe. But had we not gotten ourselves to a point of such excess, it would not feel so inhibiting to live more simply. And don't get me wrong - I enjoy many of the outcomes of "modern society", and indulge in these luxuries and conveniences myself (mobile phones and music players and computers and fashion and restaurants and so on). Hey, even moderation should be taken in moderation, right?
So, taking ourselves where we are. Not living in caves or under trees (as nice as that may sound), but living in stride with our fellows and peers and families, as householders with jobs and grocery stores and transportation and everything else. There are things you can do that don't have to interfere with that life. If anything, these choices may even enhance that life.
Why Live Without?
Living without certain foods in our diet is one way we can discover greater physical, mental, or emotional health while living a fairly normal life - perhaps just with new habits. The key is identifying what it is in our current diet that is causing disruptions or imbalances. The more specifically we understand our body's reactions to different triggers, the easier it becomes to figure out how to modify our food choices and preparations accordingly.
Let's say we often feel sluggish and unmotivated. These feelings can sometimes combine to even make us feel depressed or stuck in life. To prevent that, it's important to bring warmth and spice into our diet. For example, if eating heavy foods like meat or dairy, be sure to complement it with something to support digestion, such as a cup of ginger tea. Meals are best when cooked, eaten warm, and include pungent flavors (cinnamon, garlic, mustard seed) to help increase agni, the digestive fire.
Not too hard. And hey, you may find that it's not what you thought, or you may find an easy way to live without the specific factor contributing to your dis-ease.
That said, please join me in an adventure: one week of living free from one food item or category of foods. Try it on, see how it feels. Check in when the week is over. And the choice is yours - you decide whether you'll try going without meat, or dairy, or gluten, or processed foods, or something else you've been wondering about. Maybe make it a week away from caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol. Whatever it is, stick to it for the whole week (don't switch to something else mid-week).
Pick your poison - then toss it for 5-7 days. Don't worry, it'll be there when the week is over. ;)
If nothing else, it'll gear up your body and mind for a nice spring detox cleanse (more info on that soon! but save the dates: Saturday 3/2 and 3/9 - the cleanse will be that week in between). What better way to lighten up for warm weather than to clean out all the hibernatory build-up in our systems? And what better way to pass the time indoors this winter than playing with new diet choices? :)
Contact me through my web site, kratuwellness.com if you have any questions. I'm also happy to help you get through this week, so drop me a line to let me know what you're living without and how hard it is!
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